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EPA/OW RIN: 2040-AF35 Publication ID: Fall 2016 
Title: Effluent Guidelines and Standards for Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source Category 
Abstract:

Under this action, the EPA has finalized a Clean Water Act (CWA) regulation that will better protect human health and the environment and protect the operational integrity of publicly owned treatment works. The rule establishes pretreatment standards that prevent the discharge of pollutants in wastewater from onshore unconventional oil and gas (UOG) extraction facilities to publicly owned treatment works (POTW). UOG extraction wastewater can be generated in large quantities and contains constituents that are potentially harmful to human health and the environment. Because they are not typical of POTW influent wastewater, some UOG extraction wastewater constituents can be discharged, untreated, from the POTW to the receiving stream; can disrupt the operation of the POTW (e.g., by inhibiting biological treatment); can accumulate in biosolids (sewage sludge), limiting their use; and can facilitate the formation of harmful disinfection by-products (DBPs). Based on the information reviewed as part of this rulemaking, this final rule reflects current industry practice. While POTW discharge has been used in the past, the EPA has not identified any existing onshore UOG facilities that currently discharge wastewater to publicly owned treatment works. Rather, industry disposes of these wastewaters in injection wells, reuses the wastewater to fracture another well, or sends the wastewater off-site to a centralized waste treatment facility. This final rule fills a gap in existing federal wastewater regulations to ensure that the current practice of not sending wastewater discharges from this sector to POTWs continues into the future.

 
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Completed Actions 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 40 CFR 435   
Legal Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq. Clean Water Act   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  04/07/2015  80 FR 18557   
NPRM Comment Period Extended  06/02/2015  80 FR 31342   
NPRM Comment Period End  06/08/2015 
NPRM Comment Period Extended End  07/17/2015 
Final Rule  06/28/2016  81 FR 41845   
Final Rule Effective  08/29/2016 
Additional Information: Docket #:EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0334
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: No  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Information URL: http://www.epa.gov/eg/unconventional-extraction-oil-and-gas-industry  
Sectors Affected: 213111 Drilling Oil and Gas Wells; 213112 Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Karen Milam
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Mail Code: 4303T,
Washington, DC 20460
Phone:202 566-1915
Email: milam.karen@epa.gov

Jan Matuszko
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
4303T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20460
Phone:202 566-1035
Fax:202 566-1053
Email: matuszko.jan@epa.gov